Edwin Kagin, Atheist, live on Al Rantel Show Tonight

EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director for American Atheists will be the guest TONIGHT (Wednesday, November 7, 2007) on the nationally syndicated Al Rantel Show.

Mr. Kagin, co-founder of Camp Quest and constitutional attorney, will be discussing the new U.S. Senate probe into the finances of major televangelists in the U.S. following charges of fiscal impropriety and high-roller living in the name of “god.” (Story below). The program airs nationwide — check out http://www.alrantel.com — and is streamed live on the internet. Call in to 1-800-222-KABC. This evening’s show starts at 11:00 PM ET, so check your local listings.

WHO & WHAT: Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists on the Al Rantel Show to discuss probe of evangelical greed and corruption.

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

Eddie Long, left, and Benny Hinn are among six televangelists whose ministries are being investigated by a Senate panel. The other four are led by Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar and Kenneth Copeland.

Letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by Dec. 6.

According to Grassley’s office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six – Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar – also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.

A spokesperson for Joyce Meyer Ministries provided CBS News with an IRS letter to the ministry dated October 10, 2007, that stated: “We determined that you continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax.” The letter could not be independently verified in time for this story. The ministry also pointed to audited financial statements for the last three years that are posted on the organization’s website.

In a statement, Benny Hinn’s spokesperson, Ronn Torossian, said the ministry was in the process of determining the best course of action in response to the Senate investigation. “World Healing Center Church complies with the laws that govern church and non-profit organizations and will continue to do so,” Torossian wrote.